Blizzard is still messing around with core systems in Diablo 3, saying that "no one will remember if it's late, only if it's great."

Diablo 3 has been in the works since just about forever and with the recent green light from South Korea's Game Rating Board, effectively clearing the game for simultaneous international release, we should be seeing it on store shelves any day now, right? Wrong. In a status update posted today, Blizzard's Jay Wilson said the studio is still "continuing to iterate on some of the core game systems."

"We're changing some of the systems we've gotten the most feedback on both internally and from the beta test, including crafting, items, core attributes, and inventory," he explained. "In addition we're working on major changes to the skill and rune systems that we're not ready to talk about, but I promise you we can't possibly ship without a finished skill and rune system."

Among the changes are the elimination of identification scrolls, a fixture of the first two games. In Diablo 3, however, players will be their very own Deckard Cain, with the ability to identify new items entirely on their own. "You'll simply right click it, a short cast timer will occur as your character examines the item, and it will become identified," Wilson said. "We love the double-discovery of finding a present and then unwrapping it, but we don't think it requires a physical item you have to find and keep in your bags to get the same effect."

The fifth quick-slot button is being relocated and made into a dedicated potion button, which will help keep players aware of their potion situation, and the Mystic artisan is being removed because she wasn't adding anything of value to the customization system. The Cauldron of Jordan and the Nephalem Cube have also been cut, while the Stone of Recall, which was originally intended to take the place of the old Town Portal, has been renamed to - you guessed it - Town Portal and is now directly integrated into the skill bar.

Character attributes are being changed to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect and Vitality, which is pretty huge business, while the Attack, Defense and Precision attributes are being dropped. Armor will take the place of Defense, +Physical Resist will take the place of Armor and +Chance to Crit will substitute for Precision. The inventory interface has also been "streamlined."

"There's a lot of work left to be done," Wilson continued. "We're also working on a number of other large systems changes -- specifically with the skill and rune systems. We're not quite ready to share what those are just yet, but we look forward to being able to do so in the near future."

The upside to this obsessive attention to detail is that Blizzard games are almost invariably excellent. Seriously, when was the last time a Blizzard game sucked? But the downside, in this case, is disappointment for anyone expecting a relatively near-future launch, or even just a release date, following the South Korean rating. Sounds to me like Diablo 3 is going to be in the shop for a good while yet.

The more I hear about Diablo 3, the less interested I become. I was pretty much out of it anyway because of the "always online" nonsense, but the way it's being "streamlined" smacks of... well, not a game I'm particularly interested in. There is such a thing as too much convenience.

Andy Chalk:The fifth quick-slot button is being relocated and made into a dedicated potion button, which will help keep players aware of their potion situation, and the Mystic artisan is being removed because she wasn't adding anything of value to the customization system.

Translation: The Mystic Artisan was enabling players to twink their gear to the point it was reducing grind. And we can't have that.

Bitterness aside, a lot of those changes don't really seem to make sense.Renaming stats isn't changing them if they function as they did before; the rest is just interface rearrangements mostly with sound reasoning, but worrying consequences (will the Console-bug finally bite Blizzard's PC gamers on the ass too? Doubtful, given that Blizzard polishes their product to a mirror-shine in regards to controls and interface.).

But for me, there is one critical flaw with Diablo 3: until the issue of Always-Online DRM is addressed, I'm still not even looking to buy the game, sorry.

On one hand that's often true. On the other, one of the best minor things about Titan Quest compared to Torchlight, both of which I played at around the same point in time, was that it didn't make me put up with crap like town portal and identify scrolls, which add zero fun to the game for me, just tedium and wasted inventory slots. Not that I plan to ever play Diablo 3 (also because of the "always online" thing), but I'm glad to see that being changed.

Of course, that said, the main reason I liked Titan Quest so much more than Torchlight was that it had a lot more depth to it with the more complex multiclass/skill system, so obviously I'm not one for oversimplification...

Bitterness aside, a lot of those changes don't really seem to make sense.Renaming stats isn't changing them if they function as they did before; the rest is just interface rearrangements mostly with sound reasoning.

This is the one change I'm not very fond of, exactly because they don't function as before. Or, er, wait, when is this before?

In the previous iteration of D3, they had an Attack stat that just game everyone +dmg, a Precision for +crit chance, Defense for +dmg reduction and Vitality. Now they've gone back to the D2 system of doing it, which is too bad in my opinion because the previous system was a welcome change from all other RPGs.

And what's this deal with always-on? For all intents and purposes, it's exactly what Starcraft II had (its "Guest mode" function was a joke). I'm okay with it, since it's not just mindless DRM like Ubisoft, but also a safeguard against hacking and duping (which was a major issue in D2), which is necessary considering the real money auction house.

There is wisdom in this, if only done in moderation. For example, as a fanboy of Mass Effect, I was actually glad when they decided to push back the release date to March instead of cramming for a holiday release. The game should be better for it.

However, if one decides to go by way of Valve's Half Life 3, then vengeance and furious anger shall ensue.

And what's this deal with always-on? For all intents and purposes, it's exactly what Starcraft II had (its "Guest mode" function was a joke). I'm okay with it, since it's not just mindless DRM like Ubisoft, but also a safeguard against hacking and duping (which was a major issue in D2), which is necessary considering the real money auction house.

Based on what I remember from post-Rust Storm D2, hacking and duping continued largely unabated once they broke the new code. I remember. I was there for it.

And seeing how they had to sample the new client network code to do it (as they would in D3) to trick the server into doing certain things (usually by crashing the client), I imagine that Blizzard will have to remain ever vigilant to prevent hacked items from ruining their new mini-Gold Farm.

The Guest Mode/Offline Campaign of Starcraft 2 may be a joke to you, but it was the ONLY PART of the game I could actually enjoy due to how fuck-awful my internet choices are where I'm at (that don't run me for close to $100/month).Good thing I liked it too, because I found it completely retarded that I couldn't even play botmatches without connecting to their server, despite the AI code already being included in my install.

I was only ever able to play multiplayer when I was at a friend's who has cable internet; never at my own house. Since Diablo 3 is online-only, for practical purposes, the DRM is every bit as bad as Ubisoft's for me.

In their rush to take absolute control of their game, Blizzard trampled over my usability, and apparently, they *still* failed to stop the pirates from getting a working version out anyway.

maswell:Fine with me. I have such a huge backlog I wouldn't mind if it was pushed back a year if it meant it was better.. And diablo 3 is the game I'm most looking forward to coming out.

Amen Brother, i was thinking the exact same thing. With Mass Effect 3, and GTA 5 comming out, not to mention im still battling my way through Skyrim, im glad this is delayed... i have wayyy too much of a backlog of games to finish off.

Blizzard is still messing around with core systems in Diablo 3, saying that "no one will remember if it's late, only if it's great."

The only thing they need to mess around with is dropping the always on thing for single players and home lan players. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn otherwise. (Walks into sunset with million dollar mustache)

Jessta:God damnit its like they are backwards apple.From what I heard they could have released a Diablo 3 a diablo 4 and been on Diablo 5 by now, they are worse than me when I'm asked to write a short story.

Then people would be whining "Waah, Blizzard is like EA, pretty much releases a Diablo every year, what is next? Diablo 2012? Fucking sellouts, Waaah." So really, you can't please everyone. I am, for one, willing to take as long as it takes to recieve the kind of quality and experience I've learned to know and love from Blizzard games..

Darkmantle:Why not just immediately tell us what the item is if you are not going to have any cost to identify. It just wastes my fucking time.

Time >is< Money.

So it does have a cost.

Imre Csete:How can you streamline a system that only required minimum knowledge of the four basic operations?

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Since you asked a simple question I give a simple answer :P.

My internet hasn't been off more than a couple days in years. They are doing it to protect their auction house and the integrity of the game, if they succeed I don't mind, if they fail I will be sure to criticize ;). But not much since I don't care here.

BUT It made more sense to me for them to just make offline characters mean nothing, like Dungeon Defenders does.

Andy Chalk:The more I hear about Diablo 3, the less interested I become. I was pretty much out of it anyway because of the "always online" nonsense, but the way it's being "streamlined" smacks of... well, not a game I'm particularly interested in. There is such a thing as too much convenience.

Yeah, the DRM is just a dealbreaker for me. The fact that they're removing a lot of the more in depth stats just kind of turns me off the game.

I'll probably just get Torchlight 2 for my low priced, light on stat mechanics, splatter some monsters, pulpy fun. I'd rather have Steam DRM than Blizzard's.

I feel like D3 is really just a huge way for blizzard to make an paid auction house that they'd love to put into WoW but would cause a massive exodus if they did.

TitsMcGee1804:p2: Tell me the last time your computer wasnt connected to the internet...whats that? your connection is on and off at times?...STOP LYING

On the 6-hour-trainride I had last sunday, ie while travelling, which is the exact time I'd dearly like to play my single player games. Just because you only game at home doesn't mean everyone else will, too. And if you don't mind always-online, fine, but it's a valid criticism for a whole bunch of people, and they have the right to say so.Oh, and STOP ACCUSING OTHERS OF LYING WITHOUT VALID DATA TO BACK THAT CLAIM!!!11oneoneeleven

p3: Well then I guess you should stick to your little bubble of friends and never venture beyond your comfort zone lest you risk losing your innocence to an online random

And you are demonstrating right now why some people don't want to play with random people. But I guess your view on the topic is the only valid one, so what do I know?

I always said it: its better they delay the game than rush it incomplete. and i stay to this claim. It didnt work with duken nukem, but seriously, who though it would be good anyway? It has worked on many other games.

rembrandtqeinstein:"due to player feedback (marketing department) we are removing the ability to play with a keyboard and mouse"

Seriously though the always on DRM is a dealbreaker for me. Connecting to your server to play a single player game is of no advantage to me and a huge inconvenience.

Keep the closed bnet for the cool kids, let me and my friends play on a LAN or direct IP, you know just like D2 did.

Remember the last "big" action RPG that required a server connection for multiplayer? Hellgate London...pause and meditate on that....

p2: Tell me the last time your computer wasnt connected to the internet...whats that? your connection is on and off at times?...STOP LYING

Get off you high horse. Always on DRM is a serious problem for a lot of people. Don't call people liers. Grow up.

Where I live internet is not as stable as where you live. A workmate has had no internet(sufficent for gaming) for seven months. Not for any reason other than he had to move because of his job and his house doesn't have a land line. No land line = no internet. He is a gamer. No multiplayer games for him at all. No always on DRM single player games for him either.